Gunmen kill dozens in Nigeria as US military deployment confirmed

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 4 min read 100% complete February 5, 2026 at 03:47 AM

AI Summary

long article 4 min

Gunmen killed dozens of people in attacks on two villages in Nigeria's Kwara state on Tuesday, with reports indicating the death toll may exceed 170. The attackers, suspected to be linked to extremist groups like Boko Haram or Lakurawa, also set fire to homes and shops, displacing residents. These attacks come amid a surge in violence across Nigeria, including another attack in Katsina state that left 21 dead. In response, the Nigerian government has deployed an army battalion to Kwara and confirmed the presence of a small team of US troops in the country. The US troops are there to provide intelligence and training assistance to the Nigerian military in their fight against Islamist militant groups.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Katsina 30% Donald Trump 40% Christopher Musa 40% Amnesty International 40% Bola Tinubu 50% Islamic State group 50% Boko Haram 60% Kwara ×370% United States ×270% Nigeria ×890%

Keywords

nigeria 100% gunmen attack 90% us military deployment 80% kwara state 70% security challenges 70% intelligence and training 60% extremist groups 60% islamic state group 50% boko haram 50% armed group 40%